Presser-foot for sewing-machines



(No Model.)

A. W. JOHNSON.

PRESSER FOOT PORVSBWING MACHINES.

No. 282,642. Patented Aug. '7, 1883.

N PETERS. HmI-Mvngnplur. Wm B. C.

UNITED STATES i ATENT FFICE.

ALBERT WV. JOHNSON, OF NEYV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

PRES SER-FOOT FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 282,642, dated August 7, 1883.

' Application filed October 27,1882. (No model.)

To alZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT W. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State Connecticut, have invented .certain new and useful Improvements in Presser-Feet for Sewing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention pertains to that class of presserfeet where two or more feet for different kinds of work are used in connection with one shank or socket attached to the presser-bar of a sewing-machine, and is arranged with the view' of facilitating the operation of changing or substituting one foot for another in position for use, and in such a way that the foot not in position under the needle of themachine shall occupy a position entirely out of the way of the operator and of the work being operated upon, without detaching it from the shank, to accomplish which I construct my device substantially in two parts, which I call the shank or socket, and the foot-piece, said foot-piece being centrally pivoted to the shank and terminating at one end in a presser-foot and at the other end in a hemmer, thus combining in one piece the presser-foot and hemmer-foot, so that when the shank is once adjusted to the presser-bar of the machine it is only neces sary to reverse the foot-piece on its pivot in order to substitute. one foot for the other in position for use, the parts being provided with a simple self-locking arrangement to prevent the foot-piece from becoming displaced while the machine is in operation. I make in such form that the end not in use occupies a vertical position back of and near the presser-bar of the machine.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2 is a perspective of same as it appears with the foot-piece partially reversed and out of position for use. Fig. 3 is a vertical section, side view.

Similar letters refer to similar parts through out the several views.

The shank or socket A is provided with a set-screw, S, by means of which it is secured to the presser-bar of a sewing-machine. One end of the footpiece B is a foot, B, designed for plain sewing, and the other end of said The foot-piece foot-pieceis al1emmer,B. In the middle part of the foot-piece is a hole o, through which the-pivotscrew D passes to attach the footpiece to the shank A, said hole being elon- 5 gated to admit of a short longitudinal sliding movement of the foot-piece. Under the head of the pivotscrew D is a springwasher, C, the object of which is to produce sufficient friction on the foot-piece to hold it in position when raised from the work. In the foot-piece are two slots or notches, b b, and on the lower end of the shank A is a projection, a, which may be made to engage in either of the slots 7) b to prevent the foot-piece from becoming 6 displaced while the machine is in operation.

X represents a portion of a presser-bar of a sewing-machine; Z, aportion of aneedle-bar and needle.

The foot-piece Bis bent in such form that the foot at either end lies in a plane practically at right angles to the other, so that the foot not in use under the needle of the machine occupies a vertical position back of and near the presser-bar, while the middle portion of 7 the foot-piece is at an angle of about forty-five degrees from the foot at either end, and it is pivotally attached to the under surface of the shank A, which is inclined to a correspond ing angle.

To operate my device, the foot being raised from the bed of the machine, slide the footpiece downward to disengage the projection a on the shank from the slot 1) in the foot; then turn the foot-piece either to the right or left onthe pivot-screw until the foot desired is brought into position for use under the needle of the machine, the shank remaining stationary on the presser-bar; then lower the presser-bar in the usual way until said foot rests upon the bed of the machine or upon the work, and the downward pressure of the presser-bar exerted upon the foot forces the proj ection a into the slot 11 in said foot, whereby the foot-piece is locked in position and prevented from becoming displaced while the machine is in operation; or, if preferable, a slight upward sliding movement maybe given to the foot-piece to cause the projection to to engage in the slot b while the foot is raised from the bed of. the machine.

It will be seen from the foregoing that when my device is once adjusted to a machine one foot can be substituted for the other in position for use almost instantly at the will of the operator without removing the shank from the 5 presser-bar, or the necessity for careful adj ustment.

I do not desire to confine myself to the use of a hemmer and foot for plain sewing above described, as it is obvious my invention may 10 be applied to feet designed-for other kinds of work-such as braiding, cording, &c.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a presser-foot for sewing-machines, the

I 5 combination, with a stationary shank, of a reversible foot-piece having its opposite ends formeddnto distinct feet each lying in a plane practically at right angles to the other, provided with a locking device actuated by the 20 downward pressure of the presser-bar, whereby said footpiece is securely retained in position while in use, substantially as described.

2. In a presser-foot for sewing-machines, a reversible foot-piece having its opposite ends 2 5 formed into.distinct feet each lying inaplane practically at right angles to the other, centrally pivoted to theunder inclined surface of a stationary shank and held in frictional contact therewith by means of a spring washer,

in combination with an automatic locking de- 3 vice, whereby said foot-piece is secured and retained in position while in use, substantially as described.

3. Inapresser-foot for sewing-machines, the, combination of a shank, A,provided with apro- 3 5 jection, a, with a reversible foot-piece, B, having its opposite ends formed into distinctfeet, and provided with slots 1) b, and an elongated pivot-hole, 0, so arranged that when either foot is brought into position for use the downward o pressure of the presser-bar of the machine will cause said projection a to engage in one of said slots 1) I), substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature 45 in presence of two witnesses.

' ALBERT XV. JOHNSON.

Vitnesses:

Grills. H. TAYLOR, XVILLIAM HULL. 

